[Iron status and pregnancy in Tunisian women].

The authors studied hematological and iron status in 83 pregnant, Tunisian women during each trimester of pregnancy, and compared them with a group of 31 control women of childbearing age. The incidence of anemia (hemoglobin 11 g/100 ml) was 2-3 times higher among the pregnant women that the controls. In the group of pregnant women, the proportion of women with iron deficiency (serum ferritin 12 mcg/1) gradually increased, from 65% in the 1st trimester to 83% in the 2nd, and 95% in the 3rd. Over 1/2 of the controls (52%) were also found to have iron deficiency. In view of the risks relating to anemia and the possible repercussions of iron deficiency on the maternal and fetal health, systematic iron supplementation is recommended during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. (author's modified)